Steps To Take If Facing Discrimination At Work

As uncommon as you may imagine it to be, workplace discrimination is a genuine issue in The United Kingdom, hindering thousands of individuals every single day either directly or indirectly. There are many ways to approach such an issue if you’re in the centre of it, ranging from immediate legal contact to mediation and direct confrontation - but which is the best avenue to explore? And what can you expect as an outcome? Let PJE Solicitors provide that experienced insight within this detailed blog post, including everything from your rights as an employee, to the realities of taking definitive legal action. 

Understanding Discrimination

The reality of the situation is that you may be facing workplace discrimination, and have no awareness of it at all. Discrimination in the workplace happens when a person or a group of people is treated unfairly or unequally because of a protected characteristic, and this may be done subtly or outrightly, in a manner akin to bullying or abuse. These protected characteristics include race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and national origin, though there are all manner of reasons you may be targeted in your place of work. This discrimination could be triggered by multiple factors too, be it jealousy or ignorance.

Know Your Rights

Knowing your rights is important, and if you want to familiarise yourself with all the important details, consult legal documents as a matter of urgency. The main law that covers discrimination at work is the Equality Act 2010, which stresses that even if unintentionally in nature, discriminatory behaviour in the workplace is actionable. The unfair treatment in question might not even be aimed at you personally - it could even be a rule or policy for everyone that affects you worse than others. Take a look through our online resources to further your understanding.

Various Solutions

There are many ways to approach workplace discrimination, though many decide to pursue legal action in the most serious cases. You may choose to make an informal complaint by talking or writing to your employer, formalising it by ‘raising a grievance’, or perhaps even negotiating with your employer to reach an agreement (known as ‘settling’). Solicitors will also become involved if you use mediation -in which a trained mediator from PJE Solicitors will try to help you and your employer reach an agreement. In the most serious cases, some may take legal action at an employment tribunal.

PJE Solicitors are an expert team of local family solicitors, offering legal counsel in the Pontypridd and Cardiff areas. We provide a wide range of legal services to commercial and domestic clients, specialising in employment law particularly. Receptive to all your needs, and happy to answer any questions, contact today and learn more.